LABOUR MPs U-TURN ON EXPENSES WELCOME

12.00.00am BST (GMT +0100) Wed 20th May 2009

Local Liberal Democrats have welcomed the u-turn by local Labour MPs over publishing their expenses. In May 2007 Clive Betts, Meg Munn and Angela Smith all voted to keep MPs expenses secret by excluding them from Freedom of Information requests. Despite previously failing to vote to make MPs expenses public, the five Sheffield Labour MPs have now stated they plan to follow in the footsteps of the local Lib Dem MP Nick Clegg and make their expense claims public.

Cllr Paul Scriven, Liberal Democrat Leader of Sheffield City Council, said "The issue of MPs expenses has quite rightly provoked an almost unprecedented public reaction. It's vital that all our local MPs make their expenses public without delay, just as Nick Clegg has already done."

"Therefore I welcome the u-turn by local Labour MPs on this issue. I was appalled back in May 2007 when they voted to keep expenses secret. I'm glad that they have changed their minds and will now allow public scrutiny. I'm sure that the fact that the media are gradually making all MPs expenses details public anyway made their decision much easier!"